Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomador’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balsomador’, characterized by its medium red-orange colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsomador’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea×hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsomador’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during October 2008. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of Echinacea cultivars with a single inflorescence formhaving imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Echinacea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Echinaceahybrida breeding selection coded E30-2-2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110,characterized by its single-type, medium coral-orange coloredinflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growthhabit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulkpollen mix of seven proprietary Echinacea hybrida breeding selectioncoded E30-2-8, E30-2-10, E30-2-12, E30-2-13, E30-2-14, E30-2-15,E30-2-17, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110, characterized by their mediumcoral-orange colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, andvigorous, upright growth habits. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during June 2010 in a controlled environment inElburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation sinceJune 2010 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivarreproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as hereindescribed, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofsuch asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsomador’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Medium red-orange colored inflorescences;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent andthe possible male parents primarily in ray floret color and growthvigor.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Sombrero Flamenco Orange‘Balsomenco’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,523 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differfrom plants of ‘Balsomenco’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter colored ray florets        than plants of ‘Balsomenco’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have darker colored foliage than        plants of ‘Balsomenco’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors inthe photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balsomador’. The plants were grown in one-gallon containers for 14weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balsomador’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balsomador’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2014 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom in vitro plantlets and grown under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. inone-gallon containers for 14 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium.Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60° F. to 65°F. (15.5° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60°F. (12.7° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting wasprovided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea×hybrida cultivar Balsomador.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea hybrida breeding            selection coded E30-2-2, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.        -   Male parent.—A bulk pollen mix of seven proprietary            Echinacea hybrida breeding selection coded E30-2-8,            E30-2-10, E30-2-12, E30-2-13, E30-2-14, E30-2-15, E30-2-17,            U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are            possible.        -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at            18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately            30 days at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 14 to 16 weeks from a            rooted tissue culture plantlet to finish in a one-gallon            container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright,            herbaceous perennial.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in            mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures            up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 48.1 cm. Width: Approximately 39.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow            from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately            4.        -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:            Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            34.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 6.4 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems:            144A to 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire,            slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately            10.6 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 4.8 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Dull, moderately pubescent with short            strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately            pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface            of young and mature foliage: Closest to N137A with venation            of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage:            Closest to 147B with venation of 147D.        -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 4.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:            Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glossy, sparsely covered            with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower            surfaces: 147D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsomador’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through            autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in            a greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 3 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:            Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:            Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 5. Height:            Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9.3 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately            45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 14.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short            strigose hairs. Color: 144A to 144B.        -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 20. Shape: Flattened            globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:            Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Color:            Outer ray florets of 154C with a bud center of 143A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 20.            Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect:            Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Elliptic            to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Emarginate to notched. Base: Attenuate. Length:            Approximately 4.5 cm. Width: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous, ribbed longitudinally. Texture            of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent, ribbed longitudinally.            Color of upper surface when first open: N25A with a light            overlay of 34A. Color of lower surface when first open: 10D            with streaks of 63B. Color of upper surface when fully open:            N25A with an overlay of 34A. Color of lower surface when            fully open: 155D with streaks of 60C.        -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 4.0 cm. Quantity            per inflorescence: Approximately 300. Arrangement: Spirally            arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin            of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused            into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or            inner surface when first and fully open: 144A with 185A at            tips. Color of lower or outer surface when first and fully            open: 144A transitioning to 145D at base and 185A at tips.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 9.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Color: 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 50.            Arrangement: In a three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards            the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 to            3.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture            of lower or outer surface: Moderately pubescent with short            strigose hairs. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower            surface: 137B.        -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:            Approximately 300. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately            1.4 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of            167B tipped with 187A, mid-section of 144A, and base of            145D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,            basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther            color: Closest to 203B. Filament length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate to            abundant. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium: Present on disc            florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma color: 187A. Style length:            Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 144D. Ovary length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plantnamed ‘Balsomador’, substantially as herein shown and described.